Brewers Bullpen Preview
This is the second step of my five part Brewers preview, with the first part being the starting rotation. If you read the starting rotation article, you would think that a lot of it is very unsettled, but it's nothing compared to the bullpen. After losing five of our top six relievers from last year, including two closers, the bullpen is definitely in a lot of disarray. Tyler Thornburg, Jeremy Jeffress, Will Smith, Blaine Boyer and now Rob Scahill are all gone, with only Neftali Feliz being brought in to replace them. By default, Feliz has the edge for the closer's job in 2017 only due to his experience, but keep an eye on a lot of other contenders as well. Here is a list of the relievers.
LOCKS: Neftali Feliz, Corey Knebel, Carlos Torres, Jacob Barnes, Jhan Marinez
These are the guys who are also vying for the closer's job, although I would think that no matter what, Carlos Torres is going to be the eighth inning guy. When I said that five of six relievers are gone, Torres is the sixth, and in 72 appearances he had a 2.73 ERA. The problem with Torres is he was two for five in save opportunities, so closing may not be his thing. Neftali Feliz had a nice bounce back season with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, and was a closer for the Texas Rangers when they had their World Series runs in the early 2010's. Corey Knebel might have the best arm of the group, but he dealt with injuries to go along with his struggles last year, and needs to perform better for this bullpen to continue to have success. Barnes and Marinez are in a similar boat, with both having solid half seasons after all of the trades took place. They each have six years of team control left, and the Brewers hope to turn them into dominant relievers.
VETERAN COMPETITORS: Wily Peralta, Tommy Milone, Michael Blazek, Joba Chamberlain, Ryan Webb
I had said it in the starting rotation article and I will say it again here, I am really intrigued by the possibility of Wily Peralta becoming the closer. All of the best pitchers in the game are starters, because those are guys who can keep it going for six innings or more at a time, and pitch at a high level. Having Peralta come in for just one or two innings of his best stuff makes him the most intriguing candidate of them all. Don't believe me on starters becoming closer's, Netfali Feliz has starting experience. Hall of Famer John Smoltz has starting experience, another Hall of Famer in Curt Schillings closed games, while Cubs' closer Wade Davis and Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman do as well. Tyler Thornburg was a starter back when he was a prospect. That's just to name a few.
Michael Blazek was the main piece brought back from the Jonathan Broxton trade to St. Louis, and he is also one of the longer tenured Brewers contending for a bullpen spot. Tommy Milone is a starter by trade, but he could wind up here as well as a swingman, along with basically any starter that doesn't make the rotation. Non-roster invitees Joba Chamberlain and Ryan Webb have big league experience, although Chamberlain is likely the guy that most people know.
PROSPECTS/OTHERS: Damien Magnifico, Tyler Cravy, Yhonathan Barrios, David Goforth
Tyler Cravy is another swingman option, and he has experience starting and relieving games in 2015 and 2016 for the Brewers. He did really well in his 20 appearances last year, and he is the guy I'm favoring for that position. David Goforth is one of those relievers who just won't seem to go away, but he is back to contend for another opportunity at some bullpen experience. Magnifico and Barrios have the least amount of experience of them all, and I'd expect them to start off in Triple-A. In his three appearances last year, Magnifico was the opposite of magnificent, while Barrios has yet to reach the Majors. He was brought in to the Brewers in the Aramis Ramirez trade.
PROJECTED BULLPEN: Feliz (CL), Torres, Knebel, Peralta, Barnes, Marinez, Blazek, Cravy
Joba Chamberlain is the main guy missing the cut here, but since he is a non-roster invitee he really has no big league attachments to his contract, making him more expendable. Feliz will likely be the closer to start the season, and if he performs well he is going to be traded to a contender, allowing either Knebel or Peralta to step in. Barnes, Marinez and Blazek are all young guys who have the chance to prove their worth to the big league team, although Blazek is the one who has the smallest leash at the moment. Having Peralta in the bullpen is nice so he can go a few innings, but Cravy will be the official swingman. I also believe the Brewers will more often than not have eight relievers, to sort of fill a weakness with depth.
